Phillis Wheatley, Senegal-born slave, later American poet (born 1753)

Phillis Wheatley

African-born American poet (1753–1784)

Phillis Wheatley Peters, also spelled Phyllis and Wheatly, was an American writer who is considered the first African-American author of a published book of poetry. Born in West Africa, she was kidnapped and subsequently sold into slavery at the age of seven or eight and…